FIRE & ICE

While the rest of the world is preparing for summer, we are unpacking winter woollies and piling up wood for the eternal flame that needs to burn in the fireplace during the chill of winter, reviewing soup recipies and considering slow food dinners...... red wine and hot stews. In that spirit, it's time to look at what Trenery has just launched locally, and what a delight. Ever since it's first introduction in South Africa, it has been a firm favourite, with stylish clothes for work and play, and quality commensurate with price, I can hardly walk past the V & A store in Cape Town without just quickly dropping by, happy weekend all, going shopping.......feast your eyes on this one......

 

INSPIRATIONAL WOMEN

When my longstanding friend Alma sent me this picture I new instantaneously that I wanted to blog it, since it exudes energy and confidence. I stared at it for a while and realised that apart from the vibrancy and magnetic awe that attracted me to look at it again and again, these women all assert themselves, being confident and well dressed. Dont' they just look stunning? There is something you can tell by just looking at them......

 

 

GOING TO PRINT

Print is extremely on trend at the moment, allowing us a multitude of options, from equestrian to Aztec, animal to reptile, or whatever comes to mind. My favourite is animal print and equestrian, or chain print combined with paisley. This printed shirt was sourced at the overwhelming Chatuchak weekend market in Bangkok, covering 27 acres, apparently the biggest market in the world. Just about anything can be found here, from authentic Thai craft to gemstones, crockery, cutlery, pets, shoes, clothes, jewellery and household goods, to name a few.

The market is divided into different sections, housing a spectacular array of colours and textures, the size of it being bewildering. Being covered with metal roofs, and located in the sweltering heat of the tropics, it is not for the faint hearted. If you intend browsing, go early and take a hat for the open areas. If you dare to visit this market, do so at your own peril and replenish your fluids regularly in order not to exhaust yourself shopping! Can you imagine shopping yourself into a state of dehydration?

Thanks to the little luxuries in life, I was allowed to return to a refreshingly cool hotel room in the elegant Dusit Thani Hotel in  Bangkok where I hung my hat for a few days.

 

Grand Palace, Bangkok

 

 

 Boarding River Sun Cruise, Chao Praya river, Bangkok

 

Grand Palace, Bangkok

Chatuchak weekend market Collage

 

 

Collage photograph from www.thailand-tourism-guide.com

 

Top - Weekend Market find

Sunglasses - Rayban

Bag - Venice Leather, Italian hand crafted

Pants H & M

Shoes - Zara (old)

Neckpiece and matching bracelet - Sass Diva

ICON IN THE MAKING

Having French blood running through your veins, it must follow that you have a particular flair for fashion and style, otherwise we would not be aspiring to dress like the French women, who almost always exude a confidence and ability to outshine any other women with their effortless ability to look chic. Some just have it all......

 

That said, Pierre Balmain, born in 1914 in Savoie, France, was no different. He liberated women beyond the concept of plain, and even introduced a hint of insouciance. The house continues to elevate us to the level of extreme elegance, as can be seen in the jacket below. This beautiful Brocade jacket saw the light in 2010, and is still a sought after item after 3 years. Who wouldn't want it?  Dressing the likes of Brigitte Bardot, Marlene Dietrich and Katherine Hepburn, I am not surprised that Balmain still emerges as a forerunner. The legend continues........long after the creator's demise.

 

 

As seen on the runway below...

RUMOUR HAS IT......

Am I imagining it or is there any truth in the rumour that H & M is actually coming to South Africa soon? Well, with about 47 million people across the continent of the Republic, the majority being under 40,  a fairly sound market that stayed adrift amidst the European crisis, I would imagine it's doors from opening down South not be to far away......

 

Besides, we need an average store where mid range items can be found, and competition always stimulates, so perhaps then we will see the demise of cheap imports from a place where it is manufactured at two a dime, and disposed of after the first wash.  I hope we can soon have the joy of adding these vibrant items below.Thrifts perhaps, but economical for trends that come and go I would say......

 

 

Photos from H & M Lookbook

RENDERING



Steal her style, or rather, find inspiration in how to wear print on print by gleaning from the uber chic Caroline Issa's edition of Phillip Lim. I would combine it with the cropped pants below, with a subtle hint of animal print as seen in the clutch, picking up the cue from Caroline's dress. This jacket takes the biker jacket to new heights. I prefer to take inspiration form her outfit, as opposed to becoming a copy cat, thus enslaving myself to fashion or merely become a follower as opposed to a creator of style..... enough said!

 

 

Photo from Tumblr

 



Jacket, Phillip Lim



INTO THE WILD

Release your inner cat by wearing Leopard print. When my comments about this trend begin to sound like a repetition, it's because I feel so at home in it, with African roots and safari being such a great activity....  I much prefer to promote it as a phenomenon  as opposed to a trend, especially having regard to it's longevity. The trend subsequently evolved to Zebra and Tiger print, so if your need for Leopard or Cheetah print is saturated, you can gravitate towards the stripes of Tiger perhaps, rendering your outfit somewhat exotic without venturing completely away from the notion. This is how I styled an over sized chiffon top with chinos and nude shoes, with very few accessories. The wide cuff is ever so classic, and elongates the arms, giving a more slender appearance to the limbs. The bag? Say no more, classic, elegant, and my all time favourite. The smell of leather is so comforting....... The corresponding print on the sunglasses certainly ads a little cheek!

 

 

 

 

Top and cuff, sourced at a sidewalk sale in Jungceylon, Phuket

Pants - H & M

Sunglasses- Prada

Shoes - Mozaic

Bag - Celine Boston Tote

Belt - Hermes

Silver Neckpiece - Sass Diva